Carbonised porous silicon as scaffold and sensor for the electrochemical detection and characterisation of bacterial biofilm growth

The use of carbonised porous silicon (C-pSi) substrates as both scaffolds and electrodes for the electrochemical detection and characterisation of bacterial biofilm growth is reported for the first time. Three types of C-pSi are presented showcasing versatility in their hydrophilicity and surface chemistry. The tunability of these properties is taken as a springboard for the biological, morphological and electrochemical evaluation of the biofilms. The combined characterisation data obtained from environmental scanning electron microscopy, confocal scanning laser microscopy, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, confirm C-pSi as a powerful tool for sensing bacterial biofilm growth. The collective assessment of biofilm growth at the C-pSi surface reveals changes related both to morphological and temporal parameters.